Russians Are Leaving Turkey By The Thousands

The main reasons for leaving are named.

Turkey is losing its former attractiveness for Russians: the number of Russian citizens permanently residing in the republic has almost halved in two years - from 154 thousand in 2023 to about 85 thousand in 2025. This is reported by "Izvestia" with reference to the Russian Embassy in Ankara. The main reasons for the departure are the sharp rise in prices, primarily for housing: inflation is approaching 33%, and, according to the central bank of Turkey, the annual rise in real estate prices has exceeded 30%.

Not long ago, Turkey was one of the main destinations where Russians left after Vladimir Putin started the war with Ukraine. However, since 2024, media reports about the opposite trend - the outflow of Russian citizens from the country - have become more frequent. Previously, the outflow mainly affected relocants, but now, as the publication notes, people who lived in Turkey long before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine are also leaving.

"Izvestia" interviewed a number of Russians who have already left or know those who have left the country. Many point out that in addition to high prices and problems with the availability of housing, renewing a residence permit (VNZh) causes significant difficulties. "Many of my friends who live in the tourist zone (Antalya, Alanya), as well as in Istanbul, do not extend their residence permits. At the same time, people have lived in Turkey for 5-10 years. They can refuse to extend the residence permit even if you have a home in the property. To live without a residence permit is to be illegal. Not everyone is ready for this," said Istanbul resident Irina Neplyueva.

The Russian Embassy in Ankara notes other restrictions: a number of districts have become closed for foreigners to buy and rent real estate, taxes have been raised for newcomers, and migration control has been tightened. In addition, in August 2024 the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkey Ali Erlikay warned that the authorities will stop issuing tourist residence permits.

These difficulties force some Russians to return home, and some - to choose new destinations for relocation. Among the popular countries are Serbia, Portugal, Spain, some leave for Georgia. At the same time, those who leave complain not only about financial and bureaucratic problems, but also about a decrease in the quality of service, long lines in hospitals, garbage on the streets and smoking in public places, Izvestia reports.

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